Homeowners set higher priorities concerning roofing materials

Published: Saturday, Sept. 28, 2013, 9:00p.m. Updated 22 hours ago

Consumers want shingles that provide the best protection for their roof and compliment the color of their home, and they are becoming more interested in selecting the right product, roofers say.

Aesthetics are a very important concern for consumers. Shingle color selection is important, said Tom Gample, residential manager for Burns & Scalo Roofing Co. in Crafton.

Generally, homeowners don't know what type of shingle is on their roof, and it's difficult to identify shingles once they've been installed. But that's changing, Gample said. Consumers are now spending time researching various roofing materials, he said.

Matthew Milanek, marketing manager for New Horizons Home Exteriors & Windows Co. Inc. of Castle Shannon, said, We have found our consumers are researching roofing material, and we bring samples to their homes for inspection. They can also obtain information on the materials on our website, which will allow them to check a manufacturer's description of the shingle, he said.

With the cost of a new roof increasing, homeowners want the best for their money, he said.

According to Remodeling Magazine, a midrange roofing replacement project in the Pittsburgh area costs $19,723, and upon resale of the house, the value of the roof is $11,104, or 56.3 percent of the cost. For an upscale job, the cost is $37,352 with a resale value of $18,539, or 49.6 percent of the cost, the magazine said. Pittsburgh area roofers say those numbers are generally accurate, but some roofers will charge less.

Ed Curley, 76, a retired Pittsburgh Public School teacher, and his wife Catherine decided their Bethel Park home needs a new roof.

They contacted Burns & Scalo, and a representative came to their home with samples in various colors.

We selected three different colors. and he had his people superimpose each color on a picture of our roof, Curley said. But he also suggested we view the different colors on other roofs in the area, so he drove us around and we decided on Atlantic blue.

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Homeowners set higher priorities concerning roofing materials